Light up the night in 2012 with the Denver area's best holiday displays

As the holiday season kicks into high gear, Colorado celebrates with some high-wattage displays of light. Tonight, downtown Denver's oldest architecture will be lit up with thousands of LED bulbs while the Denver Zoo and Botanic Gardens will go bright after dark later in the month. We've compiled a list of some special illumination events happening around the state, plus great displays running nightly through January.

Can't make it for the big plug-in? Downtown will be lit up throughout the holiday season, and the City And County Building will put on a dramatic display set to festive music each Tuesday through Sunday night at 5:45 p.m. Shops throughout lower downtown have also decorated shop windows for LoDo Aglow, a holiday display competition.

29th Annual Candlelight Walk and Tree Lighting Ceremony Downtown Littleton (5 p.m., free) Santa Claus runs this show as the big man and his sleigh ride down Littleton's Main Street, illuminating each block as he goes. Bring your camera for photo opportunities with Santa at the Town Hall Arts Center, or with reindeer in tow at Bradford Auto Body.

Sunday, November 25Farolito LightingThe Fort Restaurant (4 p.m., free) Put on by the Tesoro Cultural Center, the Farolito Lighting is a night of celebration and ceremony. Southwestern carolers set the scene as all are invited to enjoy hot cider and snacks during this honoring of American Indian community members. Paper lanterns are lit and a bonfire ceremony usher in the holiday season. For more information, visit the Tesoro Cultural Center's website.

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Friday, November 30Olde Golden Christmas Candlelight WalkFoothills Art Center (6 p.m., free) Combining caroling, cookies, hot chocolate and old-fashioned Christmas cheer, the city of Golden welcomes all to this night of festive celebration. Spreading holiday spirit, everyone is welcome to meet at the Foothills Art Center at 6 p.m. for carols, followed by a 6:30 p.m. candlelit walk to the Golden Visitors Center for the Christmas tree illumination. The walk is free, candles are 50 cents. For information on Golden's holiday event schedule throughout the winter season, visit the city's website.

9News Parade of LightsLodo (8 p.m. & December 1, 6 p.m., free) A Denver tradition in its 38th year, the Parade of Lights brings the holiday spirit to life with music, floats, lights and plenty of local celebrities. Traveling through lower downtown, the annual holiday event entertains thousands of watchers along its winding route (or can be enjoyed as high-def broadcast from the comfort of home via 9News.)

Blossoms of Light Denver Botanic Gardens (open nightly at 5:30 p.m. through January 1, $5-12) Given a new life at night with this annual light display, the Denver Botanic Gardens beams with more than one million bulbs illuminating trees, plants and structures. Grab a hot cocoa and a pair of HoloSpex glasses and see the lights -- some synchronized to festive music -- come to three-dimensional life. For complete pricing and additional entertainment details, visit the Gardens' website.

Trail of Lights at the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield

Trail of LightsBotanic Gardens at Chatfield (open nightly at 5:30 p.m. through January 1, $5-12) At the Botanic Gardens' Chatfield location, spectators can enjoy the beautiful open space decorated with thousands of lights. A tractor and Model T display will be illuminated, along with the site's 1880s Hildebrand Ranch homestead. A holiday craft station and hot beverages offer a place for kids and adults alike to warm up on the trek. New to this year's Trail of Lights is the addition of a skating rink, at just $5 per person.

Zoo LightsDenver Zoo (open nightly at 5:30 p.m. through January 2, $6-10) With 38 acres of illuminated space right in the city, Zoo Lights turns the animal habitat into a festively lit sculpture park. Spectators wander the zoo after dark and enjoy 150 animal shapes and a month-long Festival of Lanterns.

Tuesday, December 4City of Aurora's Holiday Tree LightingAurora Municipal Center (4:30 p.m., free) Strolling carolers and live entertainment will be on hand as the City of Aurora illuminates it's big Christmas tree for the season. All are welcome to enjoy the festivities and warn beverages, along with the Aurora History Museum's Festival of Wreaths.

Bree Davies is a writer, reporter and radio host born and raised in the Queen City of the Plains. An active member of the music community, she is the co-founder of Titwrench experimental music festival and co-host of Welcome to Rock Island, a podcast focused on the art and industry of music. Davies contributes regularly to Westword and has written for The A.V. Club, xoJane, Alternative Press and more about music, art, feminism, DIY culture and social justice issues. Follow Bree on Twitter.